Efficient formation of novel and versatile building blocks from mucohalic acids: new substitute for tetronic acid and γ-alkylidenebutenolide

Novel and useful building blocks were synthesized efficiently by DABCO mediated highly selective dehalogenation of Knoevenagel aldol adducts of mucochloric acid and mucobromic acid. These new compounds were found to undergo palladium catalyzed C–C bond forming reactions (Suzuki and Sonogashira cross-coupling) in high yields.